Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-06-08
EIeccin. "a Farmer.

up IN the cities. stray victims from the ural
districts, number OF expert bunco swim.
dlers have adopted TIE bold tactics of enter
ing the gura; districts themselves and select.
ing their victims directly from the farms.
Three OF these sharpers are now working
Perasy lTaaia counties and, according TO
the returns thus far received, they have sue
ceeded jn pOcketing no less than $4,000 III
two or three counties within the pest ten
days. Ther method OF working is the same
in every case They obtain information as
TO farmers who have falms to sell, and who
can readily command snug sums OF ready
money, and then proceed according TO the
following instance: John Hummell is rich
farmer, living in Snyder county, across the
river from Srnbury He had advertised
farm for sale. Lest week he received let
ter signed by c 4. Baxter, N. D., who
wanted to buy 4 iRTm, and who made an
engagement by letter 10 call and see Hum
mell's property i couple Of days later two
well-dressed, substantial-lookiDg men drove
up 10 Hrmmei's farm house. One of them
introduced himself 70 the farmer as his cor
respondent, Dr Baxter, and then presented
his companion as W H. Morton, esq, his law
yer Hummeli showed the visitors over the
farm. It was entirely satisfactory, and the
three leaned over the farmers frontfence try
ing to come TO satisfactory terms for the pur
chase Of the property. As they were talk
ing another well dressed stranger drove up
and stopped. lis told Farmer Hummell
that he was contracting for the use oil barn
doors and fences 10 paint advertisements on
and, after talking with him awhile, the
third stranger produced a small satchel.
Opening it he displayed number of envel.
opes, which he said contained prizes rang.
ing i.0m 50 to $4,000, and if any Of the par
ty desired to take their chances on making
little fortune, the investment Of s. would
give the chance This scheme seemed to
interest DR.. Baxter's lawyer, Mr.. Morton,
and, after several inquiries as to the modus
operandi of the drawing, he paid s. for
chance. He drew, and drew blank. He
invested another So, however, and drew SO.
Another s. brought him $50. BY this time
Farmer Hummell was interested. He put
ia - and drew So. His next draw was
blank, but, directed by Lawyer Morton, he
bought another chance and an envelope
marked $1,000, conditonally." The man
in the wagon explained that the conditions
we're that tho drawer of the prize must
pay over to the owner of the game
S3 000 and then receive the $4,000. DR..
Baxter and Lawyer Morton warmly
congratulated Farmer Hummell on his
good luck, and hoped he could fulfil the con-
ditions. He said be could do that easy
enough if he had couple of hours time.
The man in the wagon said it was usually
spot cash with him, but as be would like TO
have the farmers influence in the vicinity
in getting him advertising privileges, which
were worth a great deal of money to him,
he would give him two hours time. The
falmer went 10 Sunbury and drew $1,000
from bis deposit in the bank there. Heb
RED back nome, and counted out to the man
in the wagon thirty 800 bills. The man
coolly folded the money, put it in MS pocket
and giving the horse cur with the whip,
dashed away, and before the farmer recov-
cred from bis astonishment Yves out of sight.
Dr. Baxter and Lawyer Morton were pro.
fuse in their sympathy, and telling the farm
er they would call again aud render him all
The assistance they could in capturing the
ulpuGent thief, they drove away in an op-
poste direction from that taken by the meu
with the money. This was the last seen or
heard OF the three skarpers. Hrmmell was
formerly fish commissioner of the State,
and ne boasts that he spends no money for
newspapers. I'm similar manner the same
persons, according TO the description, robbed
Emanuel Devinney, Of York county, Of
81 Geo, VIM. Lightfoot, of Cumberland coun-
ty, of $4,000 and Samuel Gum, of Adams,
Of g, COO.